What does Hines Ward bring to the table as ASU’s new WR coach?

TEMPE, Ariz. – The newest addition to the ASU football coaching staff, wide receiver’s coach Hines Ward, made his first appearance at spring practice Tuesday morning. The two-time Super Bowl champion was energetic and met with the media for the first time following practice.

“You can’t have up and down practice. We need to have championship practice each and every day,” Ward said. “Me being out here, running around, pushing the guys to finish. That’s what it’s all about.”

Why did Hines Ward decide to take the WR coaching job at ASU?

Ward has a variety of coaching experience starting with the Steelers in 2017. He’s coached with the New York Jets, at Florida Atlantic University, and in the XFL with the San Antonio Brahmas.

In December 2023, Ward resigned from the Brahmas. He said he still wanted to be coaching but he also wanted to be with his family and joked that his wife just wanted him to relax and watch the Kardashians with her.

“I’m a firm believer, (that) God dropped this opportunity. I love coaching. I love helping young men,” Ward said. “That’s really my blessing to these guys, God wanted me to continue to touch young men’s lives, not just make them football players but young men in life.”

“It’s a chance for me to give back, to help the young guys to be able to achieve their dreams,” Ward continued. “Everybody’s not going to go to the pros, but they have to understand that there’s more to life.”

Dillingham’s impact on the hire

Ward said he knew who head coach Kenny Dillingham was but didn’t know him on a personal level until he came to tour the facilities. Seeing the character behind the coach was a big selling point for Ward.

“I just want to be a part of a good program. Coach Kenny, he’s one of the best,” Ward said with a smile. “Being here man and really, he’s genuinely a good dude. When my wife OKs you, that’s a good thing. Coach Kenny’s doing amazing things, and I like the direction, the way he’s trying to go.”

Ward played for the Steelers for all 14 of his years in the NFL. The relationships built during his time playing he said is what he misses most and what keeps the drive in him to continue to coach.

“I missed the camaraderie amongst players and coaches and things like that. Some of my closest relationships were with my former coaches because I wasn’t really close with my father, so I looked for my coaches to kind of be role models and mentors in my life and I want to be that blessing to these kids,” Ward said. “It’s not just you do four years here; we have a relationship that lasts a lifetime. So that’s my commitment to the players that I have here.”

Ward’s goal and message for his receivers

The Steelers legend had an amazing NFL career including a Super Bowl MVP and induction into the Steelers Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor. But Ward’s journey wasn’t all lights, camera, action. He’s focused on instilling the same focus on detail and doing your job that led him to his illustrious career.

“If you don’t block, you don’t get the rock. But you have to be a playmaker. I don’t really care about stats, I just care about making plays when it presents itself and doing your job,” Ward explained. “If you do that consistently, it’ll produce wins and victories and that’s what we’re trying to do. I want consistency. That’s what I’m preaching to the guys.”

Ward’s motto is to get 1% better every day, and by the end of the year, you’ll be 365% better.

It’s early in the process, but Ward wants to show he can be the best in the business and believes the Sun Devils have talent in their receiving core, now it’s on him to develop that talent.

Players reactions to the new WR coach

Anytime an NFL legend walks in the door as your new position coach, a few heads will turn. Ward believes the respect he has will go a long way in developing players in the locker room and in the recruitment process.

“Walking into that room, you see the guys’ excitement, all their eyes kind of lit up and they sat up straight,” Ward said. “The respect factor is there, it’s my job to push them and bring out the best because it’s all about developing players.”

Ward said his recruitment pitch is centered around his success and work ethic in the NFL and his coaching career. He plans to instill the same mindset into his players and hold them to the same standards he does himself.

Quotes from Dillingham, WR Jordyn Tyson on Ward

Dillingham praised Ward’s effort and passion after Tuesday’s practice.

“He still has that drive to prove people wrong, which made him great as a player and you see him out there today, he’s running around, he’s got energy; he doesn’t know one play,” Dillingham said. “But he’s going to coach the energy, the effort, the passion. He’s going to coach the person and in college football, coaching the person is just as important as coaching the scheme.”

Redshirt sophomore receiver Jordyn Tyson explained what he’s learning so far from Ward.

“He has three things he likes to do over called ACE. He has a little ace card because it’s the best hand in the deck,” Tyson said. “Attitude, communication, effort, emphasizing the effort part to the maximum.”

It was only Ward’s first day at practice with ASU, but he’s made his impact felt already. The Sun Devils receiving core could have big things ahead.

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